Web-printing machine



Patented June 22, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SH'LET l.

INVENTOR.

O. L. RAABE.

WEB PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED JAN. 22. 1917.

Patenm June 22, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHhET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFncE.

OTTO L. RAABE, OEJ'ERSEY CI TY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO B. HOE AND (30., OF INEW YORK, A COEPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WEB-PRINTING MACHINE.

'To'aZZ whom it may concern: j I

Be it'known that I, O'rro L. RAABE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVeb-Printing Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same. y

This invention relates to certain improvements in web printing machines. It is the especial object of the invention to provide an .arrangement in web printing machines, whereby the printing couples and .the inking mechanism therefor are sopositioned that the couples occupy a place on the outside of the inking and other mechanism, so that the web may-be led through' the couples from the outside around the inking mechanism and the pressman has a clear view of what he is doing and a clear space to work in.

A further object-of the invention is to provide a web printing machine comprising a plurality of printingv and perfecting couples thus arranged, each printing and per fecting couple forming a unit, these cou-' ples being spaced apart so that the webs may be led through the printing couples from the outside, the cylinders of the couples being arranged vertically and offset with respect to each other, with the inking mechanism for each couple arranged inside the couples one above the other, thus effecting a great saving in space in a pressroom.

It is a further. object of the invention to provide an improved construction for adjusting the impression cylinderto vary the impression, for supporting the impression cylinder so as to prevent throwing or jumping when the cylinder is running at printing speed, and which shall not ob- .struct convenient access to the running parts of the press, and which shall also act, when the impression cylinder is a blanketed cylinder, to iron or smooth out the blanket, so as to avoid the bolsters or ridges which are formed in the'blanket because of the margins between the pages of the plates, and which are liable to cause breaking of the paper at such points, and also bad impression.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in printing machines an Improved Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 22, 192() Application filed January 22, 1917. Serial No. 143,584.

arrangement of the mechanism by which ink is transferred from the ink fountain reference to the accompanying drawings, in

WhlCl1- Figurel is an end elevationof a web printing and perfecting machine, showing a'p'lurality of printing and perfecting units embodying .the improved arrangement of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end-elevationpartly broken away, showing the improved arrangement for preventing undue shock or jar in the inking mechanism and an arrangement for braking the web rolls;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation partly in section, showing the method of adjusting the impression cylinder, and for ironing out the blanket of that cylinder where such blanket is used, the impression cylinder being shown partly broken away, and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the mechanism for adjusting the ironing and impression adjusting means.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, the invention has been illustrated as embodied in a web printing and perfecting mechanism employing a' C, and in the particular construction illustrated, each of the printing and perfecting couples are four pages wide, the supply of web for each of the couples being obtained from rolls A, A, B, B, and C, C.

These web rolls are preferably associated in pairs below their respective printing units, as shown. One of each of these sets of rolls is the working roll and the other a spare. Vith this arrangement a spare is always in position and takes up very little space, which is important. The Webs from all the units are or may be led over suitable web guides 2 or" any suitable character, and thence to a folder 3 of any usual or desiredform.

The machine embodying the invention will include a plurality of printing couples which may be, as illustrated, printing and perfecting couples. These couples will be so arranged that the Web or Webs may be led through them from the outside, so that the presfman will have a clear field to Work in and can Without danger thread the Web orrwebs. Preferably, to save space, the couples will be arranged in staggered or offset relation vertically or": each other with the cylinders, where both members of the couple are cylinders, arranged vertically of each other, with their respective inking bore of which are cylinders, includir a plate cylinder 4 and iinr'iression cylii'ider 5, the impression cylinder being prcterably located, for reasons hereinafter re r'crred to, vertically below the plate cylinder. The usual inking mechanism, including fountain G, distributor 7 and. form rolls are pro,

vided, and this inking mechanism is arranged on the insii'lc, or, as shown, at the left of the plate cyl' idcr l. Unit A also includesa second printing couple inch is, in the present instance, a perfecting couple, comprising plate cylinder 9 and impression cylinder 10, though if desired this couple could be used for color printing. This couple is inked from fountain roll 11, distributer l2 and form rolls 13. The inking 'iechanisin for this couple is ai'rangcchns shown, at the right t the couple, so as, to leave the cylinders of the couple on the outside, the couples l, 5, 9, 10 being thus in staggered or ollset relation vertically to each other and each on the outside of their respective inking mechanisms, which are 211":- ranged above each other. The working web A is led first over suitable guide and tension rolls 14- through the printing couples 4i, 5 from the outside and thence under and around the inking mechanism for this couple by guide rolls 15 to printing couple 9 and l0, and through this couple from the outi to associating mechanism and in As shown, each. of the running ardest side under the inking mechanism therefor by guide rolls 16 to the rolls l, before re ferred to, over which it is led or guided .to the associating mechanism. i It willbe seen that by this arrangement, a very simple and compact arrangement is provided, taking up relatively little space which the cylinders of theprinting couples are on the outside thereof, so that the pressman can lead the Web through the couples around the inking mechanism and has a clear space in which to Work, which is a feature of'great practical importance. Machines embodying the invention in its best form will, include mechanism for adjusting the impression and. for ironing or smoothing out the blankets of the impression cylinders, where such blankets are used. While this mechanism may vary somewhat, a very simple adjusting mechanism is that shown, and which preferably will be employed. As illustrated, there is provided a block or base 20 suitably supported in the frame of the machineon each side (only one block 20 being shown). In these blocks are supported pair of rolls 22, 23 so that they ray have a vertical adjustment.

These rolls contact with the impression cylinder, as 5, of one or the. printing couples, and the cylinder rests on the rolls, which extend the length of the cylinders. Various means "for. mounting these rolls, so as to havethis vertical adjustment, may be employed. In this particular instance, these rolls are eocentrically mounted in sleeves 24; Working in eccentric bearings 25. Each of the sleeves is provided with a gear 26 which is in. engagement with an actuator gear 27, these gears being rotated through gear 27 by means of a shaft :28 having a squared head 29, by turning which the gears are equally rotated. and each of the rolls consequently sinniltaneous..-,.y and equally moved, and the impression of impression cylinders'is varied as desired, and While the machine is in operation, and as the rolls are thus kept in close contact with the cylinder, it results.

that sagging and consequent throwing or jumping of the cylinder is prevented when at printing speed, which is im portant, particularly with long cylinders.

hen the impression cylinder is a blank-v eted. cylinder, these rolls 22, 23 are made preferably of hard metal so that they will act as ironing or smoothing rolls to smooth or iron out the blanket on the cylinder and prevent the bolsters or ridges caused by the plate margins, which would tend to produce an imperfect impression and cause the paper to break at the margin points.

While these impressionadjusting and ironii'ig rolls may be omitted from any couple, it will be understood that in machines embodying the invention in its best form,

- such rolls will be provided for the impres- Machines embodying the inventionin its best form will include an improved inking mechanism for each of the printing bouples,

which will preferably be. the same for all,- this mechanism being of such character that the shock or jar to the usual vibrating ductor rolls employed for transferring ink, and the fountain roll, which is due to the sudden translation of movement from the slowrunning fountain roll to the fast running distributors, and vice versa, will be largely reduced, thus insuring longer life and more uniform action to the rolls, which are usually composition. This will be effected by controlling the speed of the ductor rolls so that when the ductor rolls are inocontact with the'fountain roll their surface speed will be greatly less than that of the distributing cylinder. This slowing down, in addition to avoiding shock or jar. with its consequent bad effects, also obviates a certain tendency, in certain constructions, of imparting an excess of motion to the foun tain roll, which would cause an excess of feed of ink. Vhile the means for slowing down the speed of the ductor rolls. may be widely varied, in the construction illustrated there will be included a free-running transfer roll to which ink is delivered from the slow-running fountain roll by a ductor roll, and from which ink is delivered to the fast-running distributer cylinder, this freerunning distributer roll being located between the fountain roll and the distributing roll.

Referring to Fig. 2, assuming that this figure shows the lower printing couple of unit A shown in Fig. 1, there are provided a pair of form rolls 8. Ink is delivered to these form rolls 8 from a large distributer cylinder 7 cooperating with the usual train of small inking rolls 30. This large distributer 7 is driven inthe particular construction illustrated at the speed of the printing cylinder 4 through gears 31, 32 carried on the cylinder and distributer shafts, respectively, through intermediate gear 33. Ink is delivered to the large distributer cylinder 7 from the fountain 6 through a vibrating ductor roll 34 and an intermediate transfer or distributing roll 35 and a vibrating ductor roll 36 operated from the shaft of the distributer 7. The roll 35 ,is a free-running roll, that is, the roll is with alternately, the roll'36 breaking contact with roll 35 before roll 34 makes con tact therewith, and vice wersa. roll 35 slows down from the high speed given it by the roll 36, which runs at printing speed from contact with distributer 7 before the ductor roll 34 comes in contact therewith, thus giving a speed to roll 3% more nearly approximating the slow-run- Thus the ning speed of the fountain roll. Injurious shocks or jars to the vibrating ductor roll 3st are thus obviated to a great extent and the life of this roll correspondingly increased. The vibrating ductors' are driven in any usual for suitable manner to have vibrating motion, and no particular mechanism has been shown for this as it is not necessary for an understanding of the invention.

As before stated, preferably for each unit.

there will be provided a pair of web rolls 1 A, A, one of which may be the working rolland the other a supply roll to be drawn upon when the working roll isexhausted.

It is desirable in high speed machines to have brakes for braking the web rolls. Vhere a pair of rolls is employed for each printing mechanism, as in the present construction, it is desirable that means may be provided whereby both the rolls may be braked from a common point, a set of brakes thus operated from a common polnt being provided for each of the rolls, so that when the web roll is exhausted and the other roll brought intouse this roll can be braked as desired without changing the braking system. This is effected in machines embodying the invention by providing a brake mechanism for both the working and idle rolls, which is operated from a convenient control point by a single operating mecha-- nism. Any suitable form of braking mechanism may be employed, such as the usual band brakes 40, taking on friction brake pulleys 11 which are secured to the roll spindles 42. The web rolls are shoved into place on carriages and the roll spindles are secured to the brake pulleys so that the braking of the pulleywill brake the spindle. These brake pulleys will remain in position in the machine, and are not removed when the roll is changed. The construction by which this is effected is a usual one, and hence has not been illustrated. The brake bands 430 are operated through the usual lever constructions 43. In machines constructed in accordance with the invention, however. these lever operating mechanisms 43 will be connected up so as to be simultaneously operated by a pair of connecting rods -14, 45 pivotally joined together, these rods being op-, erated to set or free the brakes. The particular construction for operating these rods may, of course, be widely varied, but in the best constructions they will be operated from but a single source, as, for intherefore necessary for each printing unit.

" While the invention has been shown. and described in its preferred form, it will be understood that other changes and variations may be made in the specific construc tion of the same without departing therefrom, and it is understood that such changes and variations will be made;

What is claimed is: g

l. Ina printing machine, the combination with a plurality of printing couples, the printing elements of which are superposed, ofiuking mechanism for each couple, the printing elements of each couple being arranged on the outside of the mechanism, a source of Web supply, and means for guiding the web through the couples from the clear side around the inking mechanism,

2. In a printing machine,-the combination with a plurality of printing couples, the cylinders of each couple being arranged vertically and the couples being arranged in stag:

gered or oll'set relation vertically to each other, of inkingmechanism between the couples, the cylinders of each couple being on the outside of the inking mechanism, a source of web supply, and means for guiding the web through the couples from the clear side and around the inking mechanism.

3. In a printing machine, the combination with a plurality of units, each unit including a plurality of printing couples, the cylinders of each couple being arranged vertically and the couples being arranged in staggered or oliset relation. to each other vertically, of inking mechanism for each couple arranged. one above the other between the couples, the printing elements of each couple being on the outside of the inking mechanism, a source of web supply, and means for guiding the web through-the couples from the clear side and aroundthe inking mechanisn'i.

l. In a printing machine, the combination with a plurality of units, each unit including a plurality of printing couples, the cylinders of each couple be ng arranged vertically and the couples being arranged in staggered oroifset relation to each other vertically, of inking mechanism for each couple arranged one above the other between the couples, the printing elements of each couple being on the outside of the inking mechanism, a source :of web supply, meansi'or guiding the web through the couples from the-clear side and rescuer around the inking mechanism, and means.

ders of each couple being on the outside of the inking mechanism, a source of web supply, and means for guiding the web through the couples from the clear side and around the inking mechanism,

(5. In a printing machine the combination with a plurality of units, each unit including a plurality of printing couples, the cylinders of each couple being arranged vertically and the couples being arranged in staggered or oilset relation to each other vertically, of inking mechanism between the couples, the printing elements of each couple being on the outside of the inking mechanism, a source of web supply, means for guiding the web through the couples from the clear side and around the inking ineclriai'iiszn, and means for associating the webs from all the ccuples;

7. In a printing machine, the co; binz'ition with a plurality of units, each including a printing and perfecting couple w ith the inking mechanisms for the couples arranged between them and the couples arranged on the outside, of a source of web supply located beneath each unit, and guides for guiding the web through the couples iron]. the clear side around the inking mechanism.

8. In a printing machine, the combination with a plurality of units, each including a printing and perfecting couple with the ink ing mechanisms for the couples arranged between them of a source of web su'ioly lo cated beneath each unit, guides for guiding the web through the couplesfrom the clear side around the inking mechanism, and means for associating the webs from all the units. i

9. In a printing machine, the combination of a plurality of printing couples supported one above the other from the same support, inking mechanism for each couple the printing elements of each couple being arranged on the outside oi the mechanism, a source of web su )ply, and means for guidingtlic web throng the couples from the clear side and around the inking mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set in hand.-

orro L. simian. 

